Just call me Grace

So last night I made a special trip to Piedmont Hospital's Labor & Delivery area after I fell down some stairs at home. While the steps weren't many (two) and I only landed on my bottom, we both thought it best to get me & The Grit checked out. Better to be safe than sorry, and Lord knows I wouldn't have slept well not knowing. So the sweet nurses at Piedmont took my blood pressure (twice) and let me listen to the heartbeat for several minutes. All is well with us both.

And to cap off the evening, we dined at The Varsity... at 10:00 p.m.

Tears of Joy

Last Thursday I had blood drawn for a quad-screen, a test conducted during weeks 16 through 18 of pregnancy. This test screens for Downs Syndrome and neural tube defects.

I had decided last week that I did not want to know the test results before Christmas. I trust you can understand why. Well, the doctor's office just called with the results, and before I let her finish her sentence, I asked her, "Do I want to know the results?" Her answer was "YES, everything is fine." The Grit passed that test!

Of course I started to cry, and she wished me a Merry Christmas. And yes, it will be a very Merry Christmas indeed!

Guacamole

What an exciting week. I felt the baby move this past weekend, we had a doctor appointment this morning where I got to hear the heartbeat again (152 bpm) and learned I've only gained 6 lbs. since the day I found out I was pregnant. I also delivered some homemade baked goods (those yummy looking gingerbread men you see in a post below) in hopes that we would sweet talk our doctor into an early ultrasound. No such luck. Oh well.

We scheduled our ultrasound with the specialist and our next OB appointment for January 15th. That is the day we will find out whether The Grit is a boy or a girl. It can't come soon enough.

In other Grit news, he/she is this big...

Nursery Sweet Nursery

I am so excited. The rocker and ottoman that I am in love with is now mine. Thanks to Mom, we are the proud owners of this...

and...

So Jenny & I were chatting about her nursery. When I showed her the crib bedding that I wanted, she said she loved it too. And when I showed her the rocker & ottoman, she had seen it and wanted that too. I think our cribs will even look similar. I even joked that we're going to have matching nurseries! (OK, not really, but close.) We are both grinning from ear to ear about our chat because what can we say... we both have great tastes!

The best part of the rocker & ottoman story is that they were ON SALE! Half-price!!! Talk about an early Merry Christmas!!! We are both very excited... as you can imagine.

Burgers & Socks

You may be asking yourself what do these things have in common. Nothing, really, but they were both a part of my evening last night, so they'll both be a part of today's blog.

So every night on my way home I spend a few minutes at a traffic light not far from our home. And while I wait for my green light, I am tempted by the delicious smell of hamburgers. But these aren't just any burgers. No. They are Burger King burgers. Yum! Every night the burger fairies send that delicious smell into the evening sky through some magical, powerful ventilation system. And every night that delicious smell beckons those nearby to come buy a Burger King burger. Of course it's tempting. Really tempting. But I forge ahead and make my way home. But I tell you this... we're having burgers for dinner tonight! (Homemade, but burgers nevertheless.)

And now for the sock portion of my evening.

Yesterday morning I placed a load of laundry in the dryer. Fast forward to last night. When I came home I went searching for socks in said dryer. Wouldn't you know it, the exact pair of socks I wanted to wear were right there in front. Both socks. A complete pair. How often does that happen?!?! It gave me a warm feeling inside. It's the simple things that make me happy.

How do you like them apples!

Today ends my 15th week. This has been an emotional week. Without going into detail, let's just say I am glad that all that drama is over. We heard the heatbeat again this past Tuesday, a sound that was music to my ears, and we are still scheduled to see the doctor again next Thursday, where we'll hear the heartbeat again and maybe get to find out the sex.

In other Grit news, he/she is this big...

Insert catch commercial jingle here

So this past Saturday I did something I have been waiting almost four months to do. I "washed that gray right out of my hair!"

I am sensitive about my hair, the gray ones especially. My first gray hair appeared 10 years ago when I was a teacher, and unfortunately I have been finding more and more through the years. Every four weeks (sometimes five) I have my hair dyed, and of course highlighted every other visit. I spend a lot of money on my hair, but it's important to me.

Almost a year before becoming pregnant I talked with my OB about dyeing my hair during pregnancy, and aside from refraining during the first trimester, he gave me the go ahead to dye away. So you better believe the first opportunity I got to sit in Ronnie's chair, I did.

And I look fabulous, if I do say so myself!

PS... There are no "before" photos because I have no desire to embarrass myself even more with a photo of that mess. "After" photos are not presently available since I am blogging at work. I'll post some in the coming days though, so check back.

I heart Williams-Sonoma

Everyone knows I love to cook & bake, and I especially love to bake during this time of year. So last night I went to one of my favorite stores... Williams-Sonoma... to buy the cake pan to make those cute, adorable, absolutely precious gingerbread men you see above. I already know how I'm going to present them to their recipients. I am also excited because gingerbread is my dad's favorite cake, so he'll be getting a batch for his birthday. I think he'll be a very happy man.

Hard Candy Christmas

I really, really, really want to hear Dolly Parton's "Hard Candy Christmas," and I want to hear it SOON!

Whenever I hear that song, I think of Granddaddy, my great-grandfather who passed away a few years ago. I don't know if he liked the song or not, but he loved hard candies, especially Russell Stover's Stain & Chips.

The candy tins look a lot different from the tins from 25 year ago. In fact, my Uncle Charlie still has a candy tin in his desk drawer at work. In it he keeps coins. When BJ & I were growing up, we would visit "The Shop" often, and we always ran to that drawer, got some change out of the tin, and bought ourselves a Coke & a snack. That is one of my favorite memories.

Perhaps that why I love Dolly Parton's "Hard Candy Christmas" so much.

Guys, Don't Find Yourself in the Doghouse this Christmas!

This is awesome advertising. Thanks Maryalyce for sharing it with me.

The video is a bit long (almost seven minutes), but well worth it. Your co-workers will be stopping by your desk to find out what's got you in stitches. Pass it along, especially to the guys in your life. They don't need to be in the doghouse.

http://adage.com/brightcove/single.php?bcpid=1370868150&bctid=3130509001

14 weeks

Today ends my 14th week. I have loved every minute of being pregnant.

I am now in maternity clothes (loving the pants), and am shopping for shoes that don't require too much bending or effort to put on. I find myself out of breath often these days, even though I am not exerting myself any more than normal. My What to Expect book tells me this is expected, so I do not worry.

While The Grit is now moving around in there, I can't feel him/her just yet, but I could definitely feel something in my belly when Maize cuddled with me the other night. I'll just have to make sure my belly is better protected when cuddling.

In other Grit news, he/she is now this big...

Revelation

Today at the cardiologist's office I had a revelation moment. I was talking with Janet & Todd, my pacemaker people, about The Grit. They wanted to know the due date. June 3rd. Six months from today! Wow! In six months (give or take) I will be a mommy.

Kate Hudson in my dreams?

Don't ask me why, but last night I dreamt about Kate Hudson. In my dream, she was a client. I think she was going through a divorce, but considering that she isn't married and she doesn't live in Georgia, I have no idea why she would need our services. But also in my dream was Ryder, her adorable son. Why in the world is Kate Hudson in my dreams? Weird I tell you. Just weird.